Pressing On To Maturity

“You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely,” once quipped the humorist and American poet Ogden Nash.

I suppose there’s something attractive about the Peter Pan mentality of enjoying the carefree life of childhood, never growing up, and avoiding adulting.

Real life, however, and especially the Christian life, calls for growth, change and spiritual development. The Hebrew writer challenged those Christians who were still drinking “the milk of the word,” to move on and become “meat eaters.” To advance. To progress. To grow. To mature. So, he admonished, “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity” (Heb. 6:1).

This year, we’ve been writing and preaching on this theme– Sowing Seeds for Spiritual Growth. Today is our final post on this topic. Paul’s exhortation from Ephesians 4:13-16 seems appropriate.

“…until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love (Eph. 4:13-16).

There are many ways to define maturity.

“Self-knowledge,” penned author Jane Austen, “is the first step to maturity.”

The syndicated columnist Sydney J Harris once wrote, “We have not passed that subtle line between childhood and adulthood until we move from the passive voice to the active voice–that is, until we have stopped saying, ‘It got lost’ and say, ‘I lost it.’” In other words, accept personal responsibility and accountability for your attitudes and actions.

Abigail Van Buren (A.K.A. “Dear Abby”) defined maturity as “the ability to stick to a job until it’s finished.”

The French philosopher, Henri-Louis Bergson opined, “To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating yourself endlessly.”

Ann Landers offered this insight. “Maturity: Be able to stick with a job until it is finished. Be able to bear an injustice without having to get even. Be able to carry money without spending it. Do your duty without being supervised.”

“One of the greatest indicators of our own spiritual maturity is revealed in how we respond to the weaknesses, the inexperience, and the potentially offensive actions of others,” observed professor and past college President, David A. Bednar.

All of these quotes provide some insight into what it mean to grow and mature. However, for the Christian, it can be succinctly defined as “Becoming Like Christ.” That’s the ultimate goal of discipleship. The Ephesian text exhorts that “we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.” Thus, Jesus would say, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Lk. 6:40).

With a Christ-like focus, here are 10 questions to ask regarding your growth and maturity.

(1) Do I need to grow in my understanding of who Jesus is and in my knowledge of scripture? (2 Tim. 2:15)

(2) Do I need better judgment in applying what I already know? (Phil 1:9)

(3) Do I need to develop deeper convictions? (1 Tim 1:12)

(4) Do I need to make a greater commitment to developing my skills, gifts and abilities in service to the Lord? (1 Pet 4:10)

(5) Do I need to become more servant minded and serve as He served? (Matt 20:26-28)

(6) Do I need to add to my faith areas where I am lacking in virtue to become more Christ-like? (2 Pet 1:5-11)

(7) Do I need to be more engaged in opportunities to “go about doing good,” like Jesus did? (Gal. 6:10; Ax 10:38)

(8) Do I need to be a more devout and involved husband? Wife? Parent? (Eph 5:22-6:4)

(9) Do I need a better, deeper, stronger love? For God? For my neighbor? For my brethren? (Matt. 22:37-40)

(10) Am I becoming more like Christ? In my care, concern, and compassion for others? In forgiving others? And in sharing the Good News with others?

Finally, remember, maturity is more about lifestyle than learning. Let us press on to maturity.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman